Rail and cross-tie assembly



. c. H. R. HowE 2,154,164

RAIL AND CROSS-TIE ASSEMBLY Filed April 18, 1958 2 sheets-sheet 1 mm /ff"myV/ April 1l, 1939. CQH, R, HOWE RAIL AND GROSSI-TIE ASSEMBLY F'ilecvApril 18, 1938 2 SheetS-Sheetl 2 'arles H?. braune.

YPatente-cl Apr. 11, 1939 N UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 20 Claims.

This invention relates to rail and cross tie assemblies, and to improvedforms of rail clips for maintaining the: desired relation between a tieplate carried by a rail cross tie and a rail seated 5 on the declare. v

The construction of railroad roadbeds is substantially standardized. Thecommon practice is to seat the rails on metal tie plates carried bywooden cross ties. Such tie plates are frequentm ly secured to the crossties by threaded fasteners, such as screw spikes or lag screws. Therails are usually secured to the tie plates by cut spikes which arepassed through openings inthe tie plates and driven into the cross tiesuntil the spike heads engage the rail base flanges and clamp the latterto the tie plates. Each tie plate is generally formed with one or tworibs to pro-vide a shoulder or shoulders for engagement with one or bothedges of the rail base flange, as the case may be, to limit lateralmovement of the rail in one or both directions relative to the tieplate. To prevent rail creeping, it is also the common practice to clampanti-creeping devices to the underside of the rails and adjacent theircross ties. Each of these anti-creeping devices by engaging the adjacentside of the adjoining cross tie serves to avoid longitudinal railmovement in one direction.

It isone of the objects of this invention to provide an improved railclip which may be used with conventional rail, tie plate and cross tieassemblies and which eliminates the necessity for the usual cut spikesand anti-creeping devices referred to above.

Another object is to provide an efficient rail clip which is. relativelysimple to construct and which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

A further object is to provide a rail clip which, during use, willyieldingly and resiliently maintain the desired relative arrangement ofa rail, tie plate and cross tie, and will at the same time avoidcreeping of the rail.

A further object of the invention is to provide a rail, tie plate andtie assembly with a plurality of coil type rail clips so relativelyarranged as to secure maximum resistance to longitudinal rail movementsin both directions. Y

Other objects of this invention will appear from the followingdescription, the appended claims, and the accompanying drawings showingdifferent embodiments of this invention.

In the drawings,

Figure I is a perspective View of a rail and tie assembly including twosimilar rail clipsembodying this invention, portions of the cross tiebeing broken away for purposes of illustration.

Figure II is a side elevational View of one of the rail clips andfasteners in Figure I with adjacent portions of the rail, tie plate andcross tie of Figure I shown in vertical cross-section.

Figure III is a. plan View of the rail clip of Figures I and II inassembled position.

Figure IV is a side elevational View of a fastener and another form ofrail clip embodying this invention with the rail clipl in assembledposition, adjacent parts of a rail, tie plate and cross tie being shownin cross section for purposes of illustration.

Figure V is a View similar to Figure I but showing two other forms ofrail clips embodying this invention.

Figure VI is a side elevational view of the rail clip at the right inFigure V, with adjacent portions of the rail, tie plate and cross tie ofFigure V shown in vertical cross section.

Figure VII is an enlarged perspective view of the rail clip shown at theleft in Figure V.

Figure VIII is a perspective view of the rail clip shown in Figure IV.

Figure IX is a perspective View of the rail clip shown in Figure VI.

Referring now to the drawings, the conventional practice is to seat arail I on a metal tie plate I I carried by a wooden cross tie I2. Thetie plates I I, now commonly used, have shoulders 6 and l which engagerespectively the edges 8 and. 9 of the rail base flanges I3 and I4 toprevent lateral movement of the rail Il).

The usual practice, heretofore, has been to secure the metal tie plateII to the wooden cross tie I2 by fasteners extending through theapertures I of the tie plate II and into the wooden cross tie I 2. 'Iheprior practice has also been to insert cut spikes (not shown) in thesquare openings I6 and to drive the spikes into the wooden tie I2 untilthe spike heads engage the base flange (I3 or I4) and draw the latteragainst the tie plate I I, and the tie plate I I against the cross tieI2. The necessity for these cut spikes is eliminated by the presentinvention.

This invention provides a novel rail clip, four forms of which are shownin the drawings and bear respectively the reference characters A, B, Cand D. The drawings also show a fifth rail clip E which is identical incharacter and construction to rail clip A. These rail clips A, B, C, Dand E may be formed of any suitable material. In the preferred practiceof this invention, each of the rail clips A, B, C, D and E isconstructed by bending or otherwise shaping an elongated bar of springsteel into the form shown in the drawings.

Each of the rail clips A is in the form of a coil, preferably a helicalcoil spring having any desired number of loops or convolutions. Theopposite end or arm portions 20 and 2I of each rail clip A preferablyextend laterally from the uppermost and lowermost convolutions of therail clip. The end portions 20 and 2| preferably are also arrangedsubstantially parallel to each other and substantially tangential to thehelical coil of the rail clip A.

The rail clip A is secured in place by a suitable fastener, such as acut spike or threaded bolt. A threaded or screw type of fastener 22 ispreferred as it may be removed and replaced from time to time withoutappreciable damage to the wooden tie. Threaded fasteners are alsopreferred to cut spikes as the latter are more apt to work their way outof the wooden cross ties as cars pass over the rails and exert a pumpingaction on the fastener,

To position the rail clip A, a threaded fastener 22 is passed throughthe convolutions of the rail clip A and an aperture I5 of the tie plateI I and then partially screwed into the wooden cross tie I2. The railclip A is now so arranged on the tie plate II that the tangential endportions 20 and 2I extend toward the rail base flange edge 8 with theend portion 20 extending preferably at substantially right angles to thevertical plane passing through the flange edge 8. The upper end portion20, which in effect constitutes a spring arm, is arranged to overlie thetop surface of the base flange I3, and the lower end portion 2| isarranged to extend to and abut the base flange edge 8 (see Figs. II andIII). In this position of the end portion 2I, it lies in the slot orrecess formed in the shoulder 6 of the tie plate I I as a continuationof the hole I6 therein, which hole I6, it will be noted, is customarilyused for the insertion of a cut spike (not shown). If desired, the endportion 2l may be so angularly bent that it contacts and abuts theopposite side walls of the hole I6 provided by the shoulder 6 (see Fig.III). In this way, the end portion 2l serves as a lug which isinterlocked with the tie plate II and prevented from rotating or turningaround the screw spike 22 as an axis.

With the rail clip A so positioned, the screw spike 22 is screwed intothe wooden cross; tie I2 until the shoulder or head 24 of the screwspike 22 comes into contact with the top surface of the helical coilspring and forces the same into such degree of compression as may berequired. As the screw spike 22 compresses the helical coil spring, italso brings the spring arm 20 thereof into contact with the top surfaceof the base flange I3 and causes the spring arm 20 to exert downwardpressure thereon. As the downward pressure increases, tensile stress isestablished in the spring arm 20, which stress increases until thehelical coil of clip A is completely closed.

vIn actual practice, however, the coil of the rail clip A preferablywould only be partially closed or compressed by the fastener 22 (seeFig. II).

The end 25 of spring arm 20 preferably is slightly upturned, so that itwill slide on the `top surface of the rail base flange I3 when thespring arm 20 is ilexed due to tightening of the fastener 22 or tovibration in the rail Il] incident to vthe passing of trains. The springarm 20 is also preferably arched or bowed as shown in the drawings toavoid such engagement with the rail base iiange I3 as would raise theend 25 free of the rail base flange I3.

When arranged in rail and tie assemblies as explained above, the railclips A of this invention oifer the following advantages. When a tieplate II, for one reason or another, embeds itself into its cross tieI2, the helical coil spring of rail clip A, being under compression,will expand and press the tie plate II firmly against the cross tie I2to materially reduce the abrasive action of the metal tie plate I I onthe wooden tie I2. The pressure exerted on the top of the rail base angeI3 from the screw spike 22 through the intermediary of the spring arm 20confines the possible extent of vertical separation between the rail I0,tie plate II and cross tie I2 to a distance directly controlled by thestrength of the spring arm 20.

When placed under load, the rail I0 deects and causes the entireassemblage to move downward as a unit. When the load is removed, therail I0 reacts upwardly and the Weight of the cross tie I2, tie plateII, screw spike 22 and rail clip A, is lifted by the rail I0 through themedium of the spring arm 2l), which through its resiliency absorbs thedirect pull that otherwise would be exerted on the screw spike 22. Inthis way, the rail clip A materially reduces the tendency of the threadsof its screw spike 22 to shear the wood of the cross tie I2.

The use of the rail clip A, by obviating the use of the ordinary cutspikes generally inserted through openings I6, eliminates the damage tothe cross tie I2 caused by the driving and-re driving of the cut spikes,when rail is being newly laid or replaced. It is not necessary toentirely withdraw the screw spike 22 from the cross tie l2, whenchanging rail of the same Width of base, if the spring rail clip A isused to secure the rail Il! in place. The screw spike 22 need beloosened only enough to permit the rail clip A to be lifted above therail base iiange I3 and rotated through an angle of ninety degrees ineither direction. The rail I0 is then free to be replaced. The new railis secured in place by restoring the rail clip A to the position itoccupies in Figure I and tightening the screw spike 22 to the desireddegree.

In one preferred practice of this invention, each tie plate II isprovided with at least two rail clips, for example rail clips A and E,one at each side of the associated rail IIJ, as shown in Figure I. Thesetwo rail clips A and E, if desired, may be identically the same inconstruction. The two rail clips A and E are preferably so arranged thatwhen rail I0 tends to have longitudinal movement in the direction ofarrow a (see Fig. I), it also tends to move the spring arm 2l) of railclip A in a direction to uncoil the latter, and when the rail I0 tendsto have longitudinal movement in the other direction (see arrow b) italso tends to move the spring arm 20 of the rail clip E in a directionto uncoil the latter. In;y other words, the relative arrangement of therail clips A and E is such that the rail I0 will be opposed bysubstantially the same force (the sum of the forces exerted by the tworail clips A and E) in either direction of movement. This equalizationof the forces opposing movement of the rail in opposite direction tendsto prevent rail creeping and to maintain the rail I0 in the desiredposition relative to the tie plate I I. It is to be understood that thetermfuncoil as used herein and in the appended claims is used in a senseto indicate direction and not to indicate permanent distortion of thehelical coils.

Itis also noted that any tendency of the rail I0 to move in eitherlongitudinal direction tends to produce rotation of the rail clips A andE in the same direction as the rail movement. When the rail I0 tends tomove in the longitudinal direction of arrow o, the spring arm 20 of therail clip Atends to rotate in a direction towards the end portion 2| ofthe rail clip A. That is, the spring arm 20 tends to travel inwardly andupwardly on the sloping top of the base iiange I3, thereby intensifyingthe pressure of the spring arm 20 of rail clip A on the base flange I3and increasing the resistance of the spring arm 20 to rail creeping. Atthe same time, the rail Ill tends to move spring arm 20 of the rail clipE in a direction away from its end portion 2|, whereby the thrust ofsuch end portion 2| on the adjacent base flange edge 3 is increased. Thecontact between the end portion 2| of the rail clip E and the railflange edge 8, therefore, not only offers resistance to rail movement,but also opposes any tendency of the rail I6 to rotate the rail clip Eand decreasethe pressure exerted by its spring arm 20 on the base angeI4.

When the rail I0 tends to move in the reverse longitudinal direction,that is, in the direction of arrow a., the reaction of the spring clipsA and E just explained will be reversed, but the combined resistance ofthe two rail clips A and E to this reverse rail movement will besubstantially the same.

The rail clip B of the drawings is substantially similar in all respectsto the rail clips A and E except that the end portion 2| of rail clip Bis bent downwardly (rather` than laterally) to provide a depending lug26 for interlocking engagement within a cut spike hole I6.

The rail clip C' of Figures V and VII is also substantially similar tothe rail clips A and E except in one respect, namely the shape of thelocking lug of the end portion 2|. The rail clip C has its end portion2| swaged or otherwise shaped to provide a lug 21 having a lateral flareas shown in Figure VII. The shape of lug 21 is preferably such that atits greatest width its dimension is substantially the same as thedistance between the opposite yside walls of the recess in shoulder 1forming a continuation of a cut spike hole I6. When the rail clip C isin the assembled position (see Fig. V), the lug 21 has interlockingengagement within the recess of tie plate shoulder 1 and abuts the baseflange edge 9, so that the rail clip C will function in substantiallythe same manner as rail clip A.

The rail clips A, C and E are preferably so arranged in the rail and tieassemblies that the end portion 2| thereof normally engages the adjacentedge of the base flange. With this arrangement, the end portion 2| willbe forced against the adjacent rail base flange edge (8 or 9) wheneverthe rail I0 has a tendency to move the spring arm 2U in va. direction touncoil the associated helical coil. Both end portions 20 and 2| of therail clips A, C or E may, therefore, serve to avoid rail creeping, whilethe end portion 2| of each rail clip (A, C or E') also serves tointerlock the latter with the associated tie plate II.

The internal diameter of the helical coils of the rail clips A, B, C andE is, preferably somewhat larger than the diameter of the fastener 22,so that the latter will not interfere with the desired action of therail clips during use.

The end portions 2| of the rail clips (A, B and C) are preferably soproportioned that they will have sufficient freedom forlengthwisemovement within the respective recesses in the tie plate shoulders (6or 1) to function in the manner above described for opposing railmovement, but will still be confined by the sides of these recesses toprevent turning of the rail clips about their fasteners.

The fourth form (D) of rail clip illustrated in the drawings is shown inFigures V, VI, and IX. This rail clip D may be formed by bending orotherwise shaping an elongated bar to provide axially aligned loops 30and 3| connected by an intermediate laterally extending loop 32. Theloop 32 is in effect a spring means for yieldingly maintaining the loops30 and 3| in spaced relation when not in use (see Figure VII) or whenassembled with a rail, tie plate, and cross tie, as shown in Figures Vand VI.

The rail clip D is secured to the rail assembly by a screw spike 22which is passed through the loops 30 and 3|, through an aperture I5 ofthe tie plate II and into the wooden cross tie I2. By continuing to turnthe screw spike 22, the head 36 thereof will force the loop 30 towardthe loop 3| and thereby force the loop 32 against the top surface of theflange I3. To prevent rotation of the rail clip D about the screw spike22, the lower end 33 of the rail clip D is preferably bent downwardly soas to have interlocking engagement within a cut spike hole I6 and servesubstantially the. same function of the lug 26 of Figure IV.

The loops 36 and 3| are preferably so arranged as to b-e insubstantially parallel planes during f useunder normal operatingconditions. The loop 3|) is also preferably in the form of a ring. Withthis arrangement, the loop or ring 3B will contact the underface of thehead 36 of lag screw 22 throughout substantially its entirecircumference. At the same time, the loop 3| will have substantiallycontinuous engagement with tie plate II on three sides of the screw bolt22. This relation of the loops 3U and 3| with each other and with thescrew bolt 22 and tie plate will tend to eliminate or minimize sidewisetilting of the rail clip D when the latter is secured in place by thescrew bolt 22.

The outer end of loop 32 is preferably upturned slightly for the samepurpose as the end 25 of the spring arm 2|] in Figure I. The loop 32 mayalso be slightly bowed to clear the edge 8 of the rail flange I3 asshown in Figure VI.

The rail clip D, like the other forms shown in the drawings, serves toyieldingly and resiliently maintain the rail IIJ, tie plate II and crosstie I2 in the desired assembled relation. If desired, the rail clip Dmay have its end portion 33 shaped and constructed similarly to the endportion 2| of either the rail clip A or C, so that it may serve the samepurposes as said end portion 2|.

The foregoing is illustrative, and it will be understood` that thisinvention includes all embodiments coming within the scope of theappended claims.

I claim:

1. A rail clip in the form of a relatively long bar of spring metalhaving spaced looped portions through which a fastener may extend,another portion to overlie and resiliently engage the base flange of anassociated rail support, and a further portion in the form of a lug forinter locking engagement within a recess of said rail support.

2. A rail clip comprising a relatively long resilient bar having spacedlooped portions through which a fastener may extend, one end portion ofsaid bar being formed into a lug for interlocking engagement with anassociated rail support to prevent turning movement of said bar endabout said fastener, another portion of said bar extending laterally ofsaid looped portions to overlie and engage the base flange of anassociated rail mounted on said support.

3. A rail clip comprising a helical coil spring having one end portionextending substantially tangentially to the helical coil and of suchlength as to overlie and engage the base flange of an associated rail,the other end portion of said coil spring being formed into a projectinglug for interlocking engagement within a recess of an associated tieplate.

4. A rail clip comprising a helical coil spring having its end portionsextending substantially tangentially therefrom in substantially parallelrelation, one of said end portions being formed into a lug forinterlocking engagement with an associated rail support, and the otherof said end portions being of such length and shape as to overlie andengage the base flange of an associated rail mounted on said support.

5. A rail clip comprising a coil through which a fastener may extend,one end of the coil being formed into a lug for interlocking engagementwith an associated rail support to prevent turning movement of said coilend about said fastener, said coil end being also arranged to abut thebase flange edge of an associated rail mounted on said support, theother end of said coil extending laterally therefrom to overlie andengage the base flange of said rail. Y

6. A rail clip comprising a helical coil spring having its end portionsextending from opposite lsides thereof in a direction substantiallytangential to the helical coil, one of said end portions being of suchlength as to overlie and engage the base ange of an associated rail, andthe other of said end portions being of such length Ilas to abut thebase flange edge of said associated rail.

7. A rail clip comprising a relatively long resilient bar having suchshape as to provide at least two spaced loops through which a fastenermay extend, the portion of said bar connecting lsaid two loops havingsuch shape as to provide a third loop extending laterally of said rsttwo loops to overlie and yieldingly engage the base flange of a rail.

82A rail clip comprising a relatively long bar 'formed of spring steel,said bar having one end portion in the shape of a ring, another portion`forming a loop with its axis substantially in alignment with the axisof said ring, a portion intermediate said rst two portions and forming asecond loop extending laterally of said ring and rst Iloop to overlieand yieldingly engage the base flange of an associated rail, and theother bar end portion formed into a depending lug for engagement withinan aperture of an associated rail support.

9. A rail clip comprising a relatively long bar formed of spring steel,said bar having one end portion substantially in the shape of a ring,another portion forming a loop with its axis substantially in alignmentwith the axis of said ring, a portion intermediate said first twoportions and forming a second loop extending laterally of said ring andfirst loop to overliey and yieldingly engage the base iiange of anVassociated rail, said ring and rst loop being adapted to receive afastener and to be yieldingly maintained in spaced relation by saidintermediate loop portion, and the other bar end portion formed into adepending lug for engagement Within an aperture of an associated railsupport.

10. A rail clip comprising a relatively long bar formed of spring steel,said bar havin-g one end portion substantially in the shape of a ring,another portion forming a loop with its axis substantially in alignmentwith the axis of said ring, a portion intermediate said first twoportions and forming a second loop extending laterally of said ring andrst loop to overlie and yieldingly engage the base flange of anassociated rail, said ring providing an annular seat for the head of afastener which may be inserted through the ring and first mentioned loopand the other bar end portion formed into a depending lug for engagementwithin an aperture of an associated rail support.

11. In combination with a cross tie, a recessed tie plate disposedthereon, and a rail seated on the tie plate; a rail clip in the form ofa resilient bar having spaced loop portions, another portion extendinglaterally of said loops and overlying the base flange of said rail, anda further portion interlocked within the recess of said tie plate; and afastener extending through said loop portions and through the tie plateinto said tie.

12. In combination with a cross tie, a recessed and apertured tie platedisposed thereon, and a rail Seated on the tie plate; a rail clip in theform of a helical coil spring having its upper end portion extendinglaterally therefrom and over the base flange of said rail, a threadedfastener extending through said helical coil and through the aperture insaid tie plate into said tie and placing said coil spring undercompression to force said upper end portion against said base flange,said helical coil having its other end portion disposed within therecess of said tie plate to prevent turning of said lower end portionabout said fastener.

13. In combination with a cross tie, a recessed and apertured tie platedisposed thereon, and a rail seated on the tie plate; a rail clip in theform of a helical coil spring having its upper end portion extendinglaterally therefrom and over the base flange of said rail, a threadedfastener extending through said helical coil and through the aperture insaid tie plate into said tie and placing said coil spring undercompression to force said upper end portion against said base flange,said helical coil having its other end portion abutting the adjacentedge of said base flange to resist creeping of the rail, said other endportion being also disposed within the recess of said tie plate toprevent turning of said lower end portion about said fastener.

14. In combination with a cross tie, an apertured tie plate disposedthereon and having a recessed shoulder, and a rail seated on the tieplate and abutting said shoulder; a rail clip in the form of a helicalcoil spring having its upper end portion extending laterally therefromand over the base flange of said rail, a threaded fastener extendingthrough said helical coil and through the aperture in said tie plateinto said tie and placing said coil spring under compression to forcesaid upper end portion against said base flange, said helical coilhaving its other end portion extending through said recess and abuttingthe adjacent edge of said base fiange to resist creeping of the rail,said other end portion being of such shape as to contact the oppositesides of said recess to prevent turning of said lower end portion ineither direction about said fastener.

15. In combination with a cross tie, an apertured tie plate disposedthereon and having a recessed shoulder, and a rail seated on the tieplate and abutting said shoulder; a rail clip in the form of a helicalcoil spring having its upper end portion extending laterally therefromand over the base flange of said rail, a threaded fastener extendingthrough said helical coil and through the aperture in said tie plateinto said tie and placing said coil spring under compression to forcesaid upper end portion against said base flange, said helical coilhaving its other end portion extending into said recess and angularlydisposed to abut on opposite sides thereof to prevent turning of saidend portion in either direction about said fastener.

16. In combination with a cross tie, a recessed and apertured tie platedisposed thereon, and a rail seated on the tie plate; a rail clip in theform of a helical coil spring having its upper end portion extendinglaterally therefrom and over the base flange of said rail, a threadedfastener extending through said helical coil and through the aperture insaid tie plate into said tie and placing said coil spring undercompression to force said upper end portion against said base flange,the lower end of said coil being formed into a downwardly extending lugdisposed within the recess of said tie plate,

17. In combination with a cross tie, a tie plate disposed thereon, and arail seated on the tie plate; at least two rail clips, each rail clipbeing in the form of a helical coil spring having the upper end portionthereof extending laterally therefrom and engaging the base flange ofsaid rail, the other end portion of each coil having interlockingengagement with said tie plate, a fastener for each rail clip, eachfastener extending through the convolutions of the associated coilspring and the tie plate into the cross tie and placing the coil springunder compression to force the upper end portion thereof against said'oase ilange, said flange engaging end portions being oppositelydisposed so that one flange engaging end portion will tend to move in adirection to uncoil its coil spring in opposing longitudinal movement ofthe rail in one direction and the flange engaging end portion of theother rail clip tends to uncoil its coil spring in opposing longitudinalmovement of the rail in the other direction.

18. In combination with a cross tie, a tie plate disposed thereon, and arail seated on the tie plate; at least one rail clip at each side ofsaid rail, each of said two rail clips being in the form of a coilspring having one end portion extending laterally therefrom and engagingthe top surface of the adjacent base flange of said rail, the other endportion of each of said rail clips abutting the adjacent edge of thebase flange and having interlocking engagement with said tie plate, afastener for each coil spring, each fastener extending through theconvolutions of its respective coil springand the tie plate into saidcross tie and placing the coil spring under compression to force theupper end portion thereof against the respective base flange, saidflange engaging end portions of the two rail clips at opposite sides ofthe rail being so disposed that the flange engaging portion of one railclip will tend to move in a direction to uncoil its coil spring inopposing longitudinal movement of the rail in one direction and theflange engaging end portion of the other rail clip will tend to uncoilits coil spring in opposing longitudinal movement of said rail in theother direction.

i9. In combination with a cross tie, a recessed and apertured tie platedisposed thereon, a rail seated on the tie plate, and a headed fasteneri extending through the aperture of said tie plate and into said crosstie; a rail clip comprising an elongated bar formed of spring metal,said bar having an end portion in` the shape of a ring encircling saidfastener and providing an annular seat for the head thereof, anotherportion looped about the shank of said fastener below said ring portionand bearing on said tie plate, and a portion intermediate of said ringand rst loop portions and in the form of a resilient loop overlying thebase flange of said rail and yieldingly maintained in engagementtherewith by said fastener, the other end portion of said bar being inthe form of a lug having engagement within the recess of said tie plateto prevent rotation of the rail clip about said fastener.

20. A rail clip comprising a relatively long, resilient bar of suchshape that one end has a loop formation to receive a fastener, such as arail spike, that a loop extends laterally from said loop formation tooverle a rail base flange, that a loop extends from said rail baseflange loop and is in substantial alignment with said loop formation,and that the other bar end is formed to have interlocking engagementwithin a rail tie plate aperture.

CHARLES H. R. HOWE.

